As both Shanghai Shenhua and Jiangsu Sainty will be finishing mid-table (and top-4 Shandong lost in the semis), the scrap has heated up for the AFC Champions League places.

With two rounds left, this is what the top of the table looks like (with only top-3 qualifying for the continental competition):Guangzhou Evergrande 63Shanghai SIPG 59Beijing Guoan 56Shandong Luneng 55Henan 40

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Shanghai's 3rd team, Shanghai Shenxin, have been relegated (that was in no doubt for some time now). Quitea few other teams could yet end up in the other relegation spot: Guizhou Moutai, Tianjin Teda, Guangzhou R&F, Liaoning Whowin and Hangzhou Greentown.

As for the promotion, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture's Yanbian Changbaishan (as mentioned above) have been promoted while Hebei Zhongji, Dalian Aerbin and Beijing BG Yanjing (formally Beijing Baxy -- nice run in the FA Cup) are fighting for the other spot. Hope Dalian while go up - China needs more teams from the NE is the league and Dalian Shide (whom Dalian Aerbin absorbed) have such a glorious history (Haircare even spent three years there, though that coincided with their financial downfall).

Shanghai SIPG closed the gap at the top to two points with a win in Changchun.

Are we set up for a grandstand finish to the last day of the season? Leaders Evergrander play away at fourth place Beijing+Dejan while Shanghai SIPG are home to 12th placed Liaoning Whowin. All four teams have something to play for on the last day. It's certainly a lot more exciting than the K-League.

eujin wrote:Shanghai SIPG closed the gap at the top to two points with a win in Changchun.

Are we set up for a grandstand finish to the last day of the season? Leaders Evergrander play away at fourth place Beijing+Dejan while Shanghai SIPG are home to 12th placed Liaoning Whowin. All four teams have something to play for on the last day. It's certainly a lot more exciting than the K-League.

eujin wrote:Shanghai SIPG closed the gap at the top to two points with a win in Changchun.

Are we set up for a grandstand finish to the last day of the season? Leaders Evergrander play away at fourth place Beijing+Dejan while Shanghai SIPG are home to 12th placed Liaoning Whowin. All four teams have something to play for on the last day. It's certainly a lot more exciting than the K-League.

It will be a huge achievement if Sven Goran Eriksson and Shanghai SIPG win the CSL but in the end I think that Guangzhou will do it...

Greenlion wrote:Yanbian Changbaishan renewed their contract with head coach Park Tae-Ha, two years contract with total salary 6m USD

It has to be said, that is very good money to be on.

Jürgen Klopp just signed a three-year deal at Liverpool worth supposedly 30m USD. Now I've heard of Jürgen Klopp. Probably most of the fans in Yanbian have heard of Jürgen Klopp. He's won stuff, important stuff. Park Tae-ha? Not so much.